Apparatus for measuring the elastic properties of materials



J. R. BOETTLER ET AL APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS Filed April 7, 1939 J. R. BOETTLER WVENTORS w W WERR/NG A 7' TORNE V Patented Oct. 7, 1941 APPARATUS ron MEASURING THE ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS Jacob a. some, Chatham, N. 1., and Walter w.

Werring, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York,

tual use.

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the elastic properties of materials of construction and more particularly when the materials are subjected to rapidly reversing deilections or strains.

An ideal test for any material is to test it under conditions closely simulating its intended ac- However, it is apparent that the time required to make tests under actual working con-" ditions is in most instances so large as to be prohibitive. lvlany materials are subjected to reversing deflections while in actual use, the rate thereof ranging from almost imperceptible movement to very high speeds. For the sake of economy it is desirable to make these tests at as rapid a speed as possible but in doing soit is necessary to know that the measured characteristics are not materially different from those while in actual use.

The elastic properties of some materials are not materially afiected by the speed of tests, while others, such as soft alloys, are seriously affected. This invention permits the study of. the elastic and recovery effects of materials at different speeds and may, for example, be used to determine the speeds which may be safely used in fatigue tests of a particular material. It may also be used to carry out a fatigue test during which the eilects of the mechanical damage to the specimen are determined as the test proceeds without stopping or slowing down.

In all determinations of forces under dynamic conditions and particularly at high speeds it is essential to remove, as far as possible. all spurious inertia effects in order to insure accuracy and precision in the results.

It is thereforethe object of this invention to provide an apparatus adapted to accurately measure the load deflection properties of a test specimen ,while being reversibly deflected at a predetermined adjustable rate.

The foregoing object is attained by this invention in an apparatus comprising in combination a means for rapidly and reversibly deflecting a test specimen at a predetermined constant amplitude and frequency, a means for indicating the number of deflections given the specimen and a means for measuring the bending moment corresponding to said deflection.

The invention may be more particularly described in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 discloses schematically all the essential elements of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a section view of a portion of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 test specimen I is clamped to oscillating arm 2 by means of clamp 3. Clamp 3 is adiustablyattached' to arm 2 by means of screws 4. Arm 2 is oscillated about a center 2' by means of connecting rod 5 which links the lower end of arm 2 to an adjustable eccentric 6, 1. It should be noted that the machine frame has been deleted to attain clarity in the presentation of the essential features.

A suitable dial scale 8 is inscribed on the face of the eccentric cam and the graduations thereof cooperate with the reference index 8 whereby any amount of eccentricitywithin the limits of. the cam may be quickly set. It is to be understood that wheel 6 contains the groove for belt on its periphery while offset from its geometric center it holds the pin I which is integral with adjustable dial 1. A set screw 1'' is threaded radially into wheel 6 for securing the adjusted position of dial 1. Pin 5' connects dial I to connect ing rod 5.

A suitable counting mechanism It is geared to wheel 6 whereby the number of revolutions thereof and consequently the number of cycles of arm 2 may be indicated.

Wheel 8 is driven by motor I0 through belt II, the speed'whereof is controlled by a suitable control It. A switch I3 conveniently controls the application of energy from source l2 which, while schematically disclosed as an alternating current source, may be either alternating current or direct current depending upon the type of motor selected. Also speed control It may be any type suitable to the kind of current source and motor employed. In order to accurately check the actualeccentricity, micrometer I6 of conventional design is mounted on an insulated support I6 near the end of link 5 as shown. A conductor I1 connects micrometer It to a signal circuit which may be a telephone receiver I9 and battery 20. Single pole double-throw switch I8 is connected as shown so that receiver I9 may be connected either to conductor I! or conductor 22 for purposes hereincylinder 27! and diaphragm 26. Diaphragm 26 is sealed in place by a threaded ring 2i. The horizontal position of cylinder 21 may be adjusted by screw 28 which is threaded into a lower extension of support 3 5, the latter having a close, slidable fit with cylinder 21. Two thrust collars 28 are attached to screw 28 to prevent it from moving endwise with respect to cylinder 21. Support 35 has a flexible clamping portion 35, 35, better shown in Fig. 2, for securely holding cylinder 21 after adjustment by screw 28. A slot 36 cut in support 36 insures the necessary flexibility while a thumb screw 31 is provided to close the clamp.

It will be apparent from the above description that micrometer It may be used to accurately locate'the mid-position of ,arm 2 and that with switch l8 connecting receiver l9 to conductor 22 stop screw 23 may be adjusted to just engage tip 23. This is evidenced by a click in receiver IS, th electrical circuit being from grounded battery 20, receiver l9, conductor 22, stop 23, tip 24, specimen l to ground 2i of arm 2. With this adjustment completed test specimen I will be just engaging stop screw 23 and will be entirely free from strain due to external stresses.

Diaphragm 26 is of small mass and is designed to exert substantially no stress when deflected throughout a short range about its midposition. Moreover, its efiective area also remains substantially constant throughout this same range. In order to insure that rod 25 will so engage tip 2 3 that diaphragm 28 will be well within the aforesaid short range, a bifurcated spacer gauge 38 is temporarily interposed between the end face of ring 21' and the tip 2 5. With clamp 35, 35 released, screw 28 may be adjusted until gauge 38 is barely free to move whereupon clamp 35, 35' is tightened to fix the position of cylinder 21. Gauge 38 is then removed.

The pressure within cylinder 21 may be varied at will by connecting a suitable pressure supply thereto through tube 29. This supply may be from any controllable source and is specifically disclosed herein as a bulb 33 connected by tube 32 to a reservoir 3i. The latter is connected to cylinder 21 through a suitable control valve 30 adapted to connect cylinder 27 to either reservoir 3| or to the atmosphere, or may be adjusted to close tube 29 whereupon the air in cylinder 21 is retained.

A measuring means in the form of an open tube manometer ll is provided for measuring the pressurewithin cylinder 21. Manometer ll has a suitable fluid supply bowl lllwhich is connected to cylinder 21 via tube 33. The scale of manometer ll may be calibrated in terms of inches of mercury or in terms of the moment of force exerted by diaphragm 28 on tip 2Q as will be hereinafter explained. It is not essential that this specific type of pressure gauge be used as any other well-known type may be substituted.

In using this device eccentric l is adjusted to the desired eccentricity which determines the constant deflection to be given the test speci- 'men.- This adjustment is accurately checked by micrometer l6 and signal I9 by throwing switch l8 to line ll. and reading the micrometer for the two extreme positions of arm 2. A click will be heard each time the micrometer makes or breaks contact with the end of link through a circuit similar to that described above for screw 23 and tip 2 Tip 24 is then secured to one end of test specimen l and the other end thereof is clamped to arm 2 as shown in Fig. 1.

Micrometer H5 is then adjusted to correspond with the mid-position of arm 2 which will normally be substantially vertical. With arm 2 against the micrometer, switch l8 is thrown to conductor 22 and stop ,23 adjusted to just engage tip 24 as above described. Micrometer l6 must then be turned back to give clearance to link 5 when driven by eccentric l.

Spacer gauge 38 is then inserted between ring 21' and tip 2 3 as shown in Fig. 1 and cylinder 21 adjusted and fixed in position in the manner above described whereupon spacer gauge 38 is removed.

Pressure is then built up in reservoir 3i by operating bulb 33. Valve 30 is then turned until the pressure in cylinder 21 has caused the mercury column to rise near .the top of the manometer ll. The initial reading of counter I5 is read and motor l0 adjusted to run at the speed necessary to reversibly fiex specimen l at the desired constant known frequency. With switch I8 connected to conductor 22 valve 30 is adjusted to slowly lower the pressure in cylinder 21 until clicks are heard in receiver I Q indicating that the force exerted by diaphragm 26 is just slightly overbalanced by the maximum force produced by the internal bending moment of the test specimen. The pressure is thereafter continuously maintained so that tip 2 3 just barely touches stop screw 23 whereupon manometer ll continuously reads the pressures corresponding with the maximum internal moment exerted by the flexed specimen.

It is clear from the foregoing that test specimen I is reversibly deflected in equal amounts from its initial free position. Also it is seen that since substantially no motion takes place at tip 2 5 all spurious inertia efiects are substantially eliminated. To further reduce those minute inertia effects which do exist the elastic measuring medium is air and diaphragm 2B and rod 25 are made as light as possible consistent with strength.

With a standard specimen length the scale of manometer ll may, if desired, be calibrated directly in terms of the internal bending moment exerted by the flexed specimen. From this and the section modulus of the specimen the maximum fiber stress may be determined. Also since standardized dimensions for the length and width of the specimen have been adopted wherein the length bears a definite ratio to the width, it is possible to calibrate the scale in terms of a stress factor K so that the maximum fiber stress may be calculated from S:K/d (l) where S=maximum fiber stress in specimen d=thickness of specimen; and K=stress factor.

The stress factor" K will be recognized as defined by the following formula:

K=6(L/W) F Where F=actual force exerted on rod 25. L/W=ratio of length to width of specimen equals a constant.

data necessary to study the fatigue propertiesy of a given material as is evident to any one skilledin this art.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that this apparatus is capable of determining such other elastic properties as the load deflection or stress strain diagram corresponding to dynamic conditions of deflection as distinguished from the usual static conditions. This is of particular importance when testing materials which are to be used under dynamic load conditions. Also some materials like lead alloys creep rapidly under static loads thereby rendering static tests unreliable because the load deflection characteristics of such materials are much different under actual dynamic conditions.

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for measuring the load de flection characteristics of a test specimen comprising a means for rapidly and reversibly bending said specimen at a predetermined constant amplitude and rate, means for indicating the number of deflections given said specimen and a pneumatic means for measuring the bending moment comprising'a pneumatic cylinder, a flexible diaphragm at one end thereof, 'means for aligning said diaphragm into operative engagement with a portion of said specimen, means thereof, means for aligning said diaphragm into operative engagement with a portion of said specimen, means for controlling the pneumatic pressure within said cylinder and means for measuring said pressure.

3. In an apparatus for measuring the load deflection properties of a cantilever mounted test specimen, a means for reversibly applying a bending moment through one end thereof, and a substantially inertialess means for measuring said moment comprising a stop adjusted to limit the motion in one direction of the free end of said specimen at substantially its initial undeflected position, a pneumatic cylinder, a flexible diaphragm at one end thereof, means for aligning said diaphragm into operative engagement with the free end of said specimen at a point oppositely disposed from said stop, means for controlling the pneumatic pressure within said cylinder and means for measuring said pressure.

4. An apparatus for measuring the load deflection properties of a standard test specimen, means for oscillating said specimen about a center near one end thereof, means for restraining the motion of the other end of said specimen to produce an internal resisting moment therein, and measuring means cooperating with said restraining means for measuring said moment comprising a pneumatic cylinder, a flexible diaphragm at one end thereof, means for aligning said diaphragm into operative engagement. with a portion of said specimen, means for controlling the pneumatic pressure within said cylinder, and means for measuring said pressure.

JACOB R. BOE'ITLER. WALTER W. WERRING. 

